The Wild Azalea Trail

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Summary

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Destination Distance From Downtown

79.2 miles

Difficulty

5 of 5 diamonds

5

Time To Complete

Day hikes of any length or 2-day overnight trips

Review

The Wild Azalea Trail carries the honor of being the longest hiking trail in the state. It runs from the town of Woodward to Lake Valentine. Along the trail you will pass through a variety of ecosystems. Parts of the trail are lower with hardwoods and lazy creeks creating a beautiful backdrop to your hike or mountain bike ride. Other parts are higher and hillier with the Longleaf Pines gracing your path. At 28 miles in length, the WAT (Wild Azalea Trail) can be traversed in as little as a single day for the ambitious or a multi day backpacking trip for those that want to take their time. The trail is usable all year - but the best times are from October through May when the weather is cooler. March and April are the best times to spot the Wild Azaleas for which the trail is named. The trail route is conspicuously marked with bright yellow paint blazes, and is sign at road crossings.